Hello David,,

Bibb School Board Candidate Barbara Fike has replied to our last email, and her statement in opposition to the proposed school property tax increase is quoted in its entirety below. She will be speaking at the Heart of Georgia Republican Women Meeting, Tuesday, May 13, 6 PM at The Gables at Wolf Creek (5PM Sandwich Supper). District 6 Commissioner Raymond Wilder will also be speaking.

HEART OF GEORGIA REPUBLICAN WOMEN MEETING LOCATION CHANGE TO THE GABLES,

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 5 PM Dinner; 6 PM Meeting

Women and men are invited to attend the Heart of Georgia Republican Women's Meeting, Tuesday, May 14, 5 PM at The Gables at Wolf Creek, 5228 Forsyth Rd, Macon. Speaking will be District 6 Commissioner Raymond Wilder and Barbara Fike, District 3 Candidate for School Board. The deli sandwich meal is $10 per person.

Bibb County District 6 Commissioner Raymond Wilder

Barbara Fike

Bibb County School Board District 3 Candidate

Statement from Barbara Fike

I'm grateful for the opportunity to run as a candidate for District 3 School Board and to have this forum to share my views. I believe my purpose in running for this election is to promote integrity, or sound principles, in education here in Bibb County. Here are two areas to consider. 

1. With much appreciation for the board's maintaining the millage rate over the last number of elections and for cutting numerous expenses in the the coming budget between work sessions 2 and 3, current board members need to be encouraged to commit to maintaining the current millage rate for property taxes. Even maintaining the current millage rate could result in increased taxes due to new property assessments for some individuals. A millage rate rollback would be required to keep property taxes for most residents the same as last year. Also, the school system will be receiving $23 million from the state from the Equalization Grant, approximately a $12 million dollar increase from the previous year. These increases would allow time to examine ways to cut spending before the budget for FY26. Taxes should not be raised before the obligation to examine insufficiently attended schools is fulfilled and the option to use less expensive in-house consultants rather than costly outside consultants is considered.  

Examining large expenditures like technology improvements would also be wise. Have any possible savings due to careful maintenance been considered? Has the temptation to resort to the technology instead of valuable interpersonal instruction and discussion been considered? In a time when much communication skills are being lost due to reliance on technology, are all the technology expenses essential? 

2. One other area that needs the attention of the board is the removal of sexually explicit books from the libraries of Bibb County schools. A list of specific titles of multiple copies in our school libraries reveals books whose content could be illegal because of Georgia Harmful to Minors Laws if they were distributed to minors instead of available in schools. Purchases of books like these not only unnecessarily spend taxpayer money, but also promote unhealthy practices that bring brokenness and poor mental health, rather than lifting up students to noble ideas as education is meant to do. Parents have the opportunity to speak against such books, but many are unaware that these books are even in the libraries. The board needs to take action to remove books that cannot legally be distributed to minors.

Thank you, 

Barbara Fike

Candidate for School Board, District 3

Bibb GOP Community Meeting

Thursday, May 16, 6:30 PM

Pine Forest Baptist Church

1848 Tucker Road, Macon GA

All are welcome to hear GA State Representative Dale Washburn; Nancy Hicks, Candidate for GA House District 145; and Bibb County District 7 Commissioner Bill Howell. Representative Dale Washburn is sponsoring the meal of Jimmy John Sub Sandwiches, drink & chips for first 90 attendees! Donations to the party are recommended but not required. No reservation is required.

Bibb County District 7 Commissioner Bill Howell

Nancy Hicks, GA State House District 145 Candidate

DEMOCRAT PARTY BALLOT QUESTIONS

You can really see the differences between Republican Party concerns and Democrat Party concerns by comparing their ballot questions. If you vote in the Democrat Party to vote in the Sheriff's race, you will find questions designed to promote their party positions. For fun, we are polling our supporters on the Democrat questions and publishing how you see them.

Question 1: Should the United States and the State of Georgia protect Georgians from gun violence by banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, closing background check loopholes, and passing other common-sense gun safety reforms? YES 28% NO 72%

Question 2: Should the State of Georgia incentivize clean energy production as part of a climate policy that recognizes the urgent threat that climate change poses to Georgians’ health, lives and future? YES 14% NO 86%

Question 3: Should the State of Georgia expand voter access by allowing same-day voter registration, removing obstacles to voting by mail, and making secure ballot drop boxes accessible at all times through Election Day?

EARLY VOTING TURNOUT HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY LOW THIS ELECTION! 3239 people have voted in person and 242 absentee ballots have been returned through Friday, May 10. Do not assume your candidate will win and be surprised the night of Election Day!

Republicans and Conservatives should not let Democrats and leftists build up a big lead in early voting, we will have to overcome on Election Day. You never know what might happen to keep you from voting on Election Day. More than half of voters are voting at the Board of Elections, so expect shorter lines at Theron Ussery Rec Center in North Macon Park and Elaine Lucas Senior Center in Central City Park.

GEORGIA VOTERS ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE BY PARTY, SO ANY VOTER CAN VOTE IN EITHER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. If you vote in the Republican Party, depending on your district, you can vote for your candidate in GA House District 145 and Congressional District 2 and express your opinion on the Republican ballot questions below. All the Sheriff candidates are on the Democrat ballot. If you decide to vote in the Democrat Primary, you can vote for whomever you want in November for any office listed. However, during the June runoffs, you will only be allowed to vote in the primary you voted in on May 21. DO NOT VOTE ON THE NONPARTISAN BALLOT BECAUSE IT LIMITS YOUR CHOICES! All nonpartisan races are on both the Republican and Democrat ballots.

Do you want a 12% or more school property tax increase?

The Bibb County School Superintendent has recommended a 1.5 mill tax increase. This increase would be in addition to the increase in the tax base due to property value increases. In other words, you could pay a higher rate on higher property values! Thursday, May 16, the School Board will vote on his recommendation to raise taxes. At the Professional Learning Center, 2003 Riverside Drive, a BOE Committee Meeting will be held at 4 PM to discuss the proposal and most likely an initial vote. The Board Meeting will be held at 6:30 PM, also at the PLC, for an official vote. Should the Board adopt the tax increase, three public hearings will be required by law before the final vote to raise your taxes. Find out how to contact your school board members here.

Two Board Members are running for office against opposition on May 21. The other board members are not up for election or are unopposed for re-election. Kristin Hanlon, District 3 (South Bibb), is running against Barbara Fike. Kristin has not said how she will vote in this last year of her current term. Juawn Jackson is running for GA House District 145 (West Bibb) in the Democrat Primary against Tangie Herring and Donald Druitt. Kristin has made a campaign contribution to Juawn's campaign. Juawn promised in his campaign for the school board that he would not raise taxes. He also has not said how he will vote on the proposed tax increase.

Only four school board members can kill the tax increase, so it's important for you to let your board members know that you do not want a tax increase. Dr. Curtis Jones, the previous School Superintendent, advised the board that school closures would be necessary to gain efficiencies. School closures are a political hot potato the board would like to avoid even if it costs taxpayers more money. In the article below: "The district has too many schools and too few students by Georgia Department of Education standards. Half of the Bibb County School District’s 22 elementary schools have too few students enrolled to be eligible for state funding for certain positions such as media specialists, according to Bush’s presentation. Two of six middle schools and four of six high schools also have enrollment below the state’s minimum." School Board President James Freeman's wife is a media specialist in the school system.

Board members revealed in a recent candidate forum that they have had no problem selling school board property, so additional revenue could be gained by selling unneeded property in addition to the savings from having to operate and maintain underpopulated schools. With Bibb County Schools in the bottom 13% of school districts in Georgia according to Schooldigger.com, there should be some struggling schools we could find to close in proximity to each other. The Lizella school was closed many years ago, and the students out in West Bibb travel much farther to school than students would have to travel to go to another inner-city Macon school. It's time for the School Board to consolidate the underpopulated schools and cut the expensive consultants and programs before they ask taxpayers to cut their budgets. That will only happen if you make your voice known and your vote count!

May 21 Republican Party Ballot Questions

When you vote in the Republican Primary, you will see the following opinion questions. We polled our Bibb County GOP supporters on the questions.



Bibb GOP Ballot Question Poll Results

Question 1: For future elections, do you want hand marked paper ballots, scanned and verified by hand count on live stream video? YES 83% NO 17%

Question 2: Should the legislature enact the Fair Tax replacing the state income tax and state sales tax with a consumption tax equal to current state funding and taxing no legal citizen or family up to the poverty level of spending? YES 64% NO 36%

Question 3: Should the legislature ban registered lobbyists from serving on the State Elections Board? YES 70% NO 30%

Question 4: Should the Georgia Republican Primary have a closed primary, meaning that only registered Republicans would be allowed to vote in the Republican Primary?

YES 74% NO 26%

Question 5: Should public officials who allow illegal migration to occur be held responsible for crimes committed by illegal aliens? YES 90% NO 10%

Question 6: Would you support a statewide vote to allow gaming in Georgia so the voters can decide this issue instead of politicians in Atlanta? YES 57% NO 43%

Question 7: Currently, hundreds of thousands of hours and dollars are spent every year cleaning up voter rolls. Would you support an amendment to the National Voting Rights Act that would require registered voters to renew their registration every four years? YES 69% NO 31%

Question 8: Do you believe unelected and unaccountable international bureaucrats, like the UN controlled World Health Organization (WHO), should have complete control over management of future pandemics in the United States and authority to regulate your healthcare and personal health?

YES 10% NO 90%

You can get a sample ballot on the GA Secretary of State MyVoterPage, but we can't guarantee it's accuracy. If in doubt report the problem to the poll workers and please let us know, so we can track and warn voters and the candidates. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR ELECTRONIC AND PAPER BALLOT CLOSELY ON BOTH FRONT & BACK!

EARLY VOTING RACES TO WATCH & VOTE IN!

Georgia Supreme Court--Nonpartisan Race

Incumbent Supreme Court Judge Andrew Pinson

vs. Former Democrat Congressman John Barrow

Usually judges are unopposed for re-election, but former Democrat Congressman Barrow is running a pro-abortion campaign against Governor Kemp-appointed Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson. John Barrow proclaims, “If you help me on May 21, we will strike a blow for Roe.” Judge Pinson is a conservative judge who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Georgia Court of Appeals--Nonpartisan Race

Republican Jeff Davis vs. Democrat Tabitha Ponder

Judge races usually don't involve political issues, but you can tell something about the candidates by what primary they vote in. Usually, Jeff Davis votes in the Republican Primary. Usually, Tabitha Ponder votes in the Democrat Primary.

Bibb School Board District 3--Nonpartisan Race

Incumbent Kristin Hanlon vs Barbara Fike

Both candidates are of good character and likeable. Fike is running on a pledge to not raise your school property taxes and to support ridding our school media centers of sexually explicit material inappropriate to minors. Hanlon has not been willing to make such pledges, and the Bibb County School Board will decide after the election about whether or not to raise taxes. Four school board members out of eight total are needed to keep your taxes from being raised this year.

GA House District 145--Republican Primary

Three Candidates are running for the Republican nomination to face one of three Democrats on November 5th. Macon residents De'Ron Rogers and Nancy Hicks and Forsyth resident Noah Harbuck are asking for your vote.

GA Congressional District 2 Race--Republican Primary

Four candidates are asking for your vote for the Republican nomination to face Congressman Sanford Bishop: Businessman Wayne Johnson from Macon, Blue Collar Worker Chuck Hand from Taylor County, News Personality Reggie Liparoto from Columbus, and Hospital Director & National Guardsman Michael Nixon from Thomas County.

Other Two-Person Races Decided on May 21st

The following races will definitely and finally be decided on May 21 with no chance of a run-off. Three or more person races may go to a run-off election June 18 if no candidate receives a majority May 21. Vote in all races and especially vote in the two-person races so we won't be unpleasantly surprised on May 21st!

Mayor--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Lester Miller vs Shekita Maxwell

Commissioner District 2--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Paul Bronson vs Wallace Herring

Commissioner District 5--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Seth Clark vs Caitlin Mee

Commissioner District 6--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Raymond Wilder vs George Thomas

Macon Water Authority District 2--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Desmond Brown vs Marshall Talley

Macon Water Authority District 3--Nonpartisan

Incumbent Dwight Jones vs Tanteneya Harpe

GA State Senate 25--Republican Primary

Incumbent Rick Williams vs Leland Olinger

EARLY IN PERSON & ABSENTEE VOTING

MON-FRI, APRIL 29-MAY 17, 8:30-5:30

SAT, MAY 4 & 11, 9:00-5:00

SUN, MAY 12, 1:00-5:00

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

Macon-Bibb Board of Elections

3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Ste MB101

(Back Side of Macon Mall)

Macon, GA 31206

ELAINE LUCAS SENIOR CENTER

132 Willie Smokie Glover Dr.

Macon, GA 31201

THERON USSERY RECREATION CENTER

815 N Macon Park Dr.

Macon, GA 31210

We encourage you to vote early at one of the early voting locations to lock in your vote and avoid lines and unforeseen problems on Election Day, May 21. If you want to vote absentee by mail, you can download a ballot application from the GA Secretary of State website below or pick one up at the Bibb County Board of Elections in the Macon Mall on the Mercer University Blvd side.

We do NOT encourage you to ask for an application to be mailed to you or for you to mail in a ballot due to the unreliability of the U.S. Mail. Instead, bring your application to the Board of Elections by May 10. Your ballot will then be mailed to you. If you do not receive your ballot in the mail, you may vote in person at the early voting location and sign that you did not receive your ballot, and you will be allowed to vote in person. The absentee ballot must be returned by the end of voting on Tuesday, May 21. You can have someone who is legally allowed to carry your ballot to the Board of Elections, or you can carry it in yourself. "A voted absentee ballot can be returned by mail or in person, by a family member as designated on O.C.G.A. 21-2-385(a) or by a person living in your household. If you have a physical disability, your voted absentee ballot may be returned by a family member or housemate (as described above) OR by your caregiver." (GA SoS Website).

Please vote all the way down the ballot (every race) and check the printed ballot to be sure it matches your vote on the poll pad before you scan it into the tabulator. Report any problems with the ballot to the poll workers on site, and please contact us also, so we can track any issues.

Sample Ballots available now at the Board of Elections and our Bibb County GOP Headquarters!

BIBB COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFICE HOURS MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 10 AM - 6 PM

SATURDAY, 10 AM - 2 PM

3220 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, NORTH 75 OFFICE PARK

Call us on our office landline at 478-259-0073 to ensure a volunteer is in the office when you can come.

IN STOCK--Trump Signs, T-shirts, Hats, Flags, Magnets, Bracelets, Stickers available to our donors for less than you can get online! Some legacy giveaways also.

2024 REPUBLICAN & ELECTION KEY DATES

Mon, Apr 29 – Fri, May 17 Early Voting

Fri & Sat, May 17-18--GAGOP State Convention, Columbus

Tue, May 21 General Primary/Nonpartisan Election

Mon, Jun 10 – Fri, Jun 14 Early Voting

Tue, Jun 18 Gen Primary/Nonpartisan Runoff Election

Sun, Sep 15, 2 PM Middle GA 2A Sporting Clay Tournament, Meadows Clay Sports, Forsyth

Mon, Oct 14 – Fri, Nov 1 Early Voting

Tue, Nov 5 General Election

Thu, Nov 21 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Mon, Nov 25 – Wed, Nov 27 Early Voting

Tue, Dec 3 General Runoff Election

JOIN THE BIBB COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

Consider joining our party in 2024 and helping us win by paying your dues. The 2024 Bibb County Convention Registration Fee will be waived for all current dues-paying members, and membership fees paid now make you current through all 2024. Basic Membership dues are $40 for an individual or $60 for a couple. The Reagan Challenge Membership dues are $100 for an individual and $150 for a couple and include 2024 Christmas Party tickets. The Eisenhower Victory Membership is $500 for an individual and $750 for a couple and includes a 2024 Christmas Party ticket, recognition on our website, a special table at our meetings, and sponsorship of one meeting. The Lincoln Legacy Lifetime Membership is $1,000 and includes Christmas Party tickets for life, recognition on our website, a special table at our meeting, sponsorship on a meeting, and lifetime membership with no additional dues. Click here to pay online.

GET BIBB GOP TEXT MESSAGES!

We have added text message alerts to our email service, but you must sign up and give permission to receive the texts. You will get no more than a few texts each month. If you tried previously and were unable to enter your number, please try again. To sign up for our new SMS text message service, click here.